FEBRUARY 205 



every branch wreathed with the lovely delicate white 

 flowers. I only wish I had bought three or four plants 

 instead of one. I shall certainly do so next autumn. The 

 branches I ventured to cut have lasted over ten days in 

 the room in water, and those left on the plant have 

 turned brown from the frosty nights. 



I went to a neighbour to-day and found the house 

 filled with pots of Genista prcecox. They came from 

 Waterer's, and a more charming effect in a large room I 

 never saw. The plant was beautifully grown and one 

 mass of pale lemon-coloured bloom sweet-smelling, too. 

 I have long had it outside, and it does very well ; but 

 it seems difficult to strike, though I think it could be 

 managed just before it is in full bloom. I expect what I 

 saw was grown from seed, but it is not in Thompson's list. 



February %Qth. I returned home to-day after staying 

 some little time in London. Apart from other reasons, it 

 is worth going away for the joy of returning. While in 

 London I again went to the Drill Hall Show, on the 14th, 

 some few days later than last year. Nothing struck me 

 so much this year as the Amygdalus davidiana did the 

 year before ; but it was an especially good show of flowers 

 for so early in the season. Year by year the Cyclamens 

 grow larger and finer in colour, but I do not think they 

 are plants that have been greatly improved by increased 

 cultivation and Brobdingnagian size. I prefer the pretty, 

 little, old, sweet-smelling types. Pans full of miniature 

 Daffodils were very attractive, and Messrs. Hill & Co. of 

 Lower Edmonton had a lovely and most uncommon collec- 

 tion of greenhouse Ferns. Nephrodium membranifolium 

 and an Aspidium struck me particularly, from the charm 

 of their growth. The fashionable, little, bright pink Begonia 

 Gloire de Lorraine was in large quantities and most 

 effective. The lovely Iris reticulata was also exhibited. 



The London streets were more than ever full of 



